Find a local real estate agent

How to find an agent

The agent you choose to sell your home can make or break the sale. So of all the decisions you need to make, picking the right agent is the one that makes the biggest difference.

So when you’re looking for an agent it’s vital to do your research and create a shortlist. Don’t have time? Just tell us a little about your property and we’ll send a personalised shortlist of the top agents in your area.

How to interview agents

Once you have a shortlist of potential agents it’s a good idea to interview each one. This way you can compare your thoughts based on the facts.

While each agent may look similar at face value, once you start asking the right questions you’ll find a range of commissions and fees. Are they fixed or are they negotiable? Do they include marketing and advertising? Make sure you ask the right questions so that you know exactly what you’re in for.

How to compare agents

To find the right agent it’s essential to compare them on their recent sales performance, appraisals, experience, negotiation skills and what past clients say about them.

Ultimately you need to be sure that the agent is a good fit for your expectations and desired results. Appoint someone with a great track record who is willing to communicate with you as you see fit, and remember to always read the fine print.

How to find an agent in your area

The agent you choose is going to represent you and your property, so it’s important that they understand your local market, are in touch with active buyers and understand what marketing strategies work best in your neighbourhood.

While you might get recommendations from family and friends, be sure to do your own research to ensure so you’re considering all top agents in your area.

How does OpenAgent work?

Tell us what you are looking for in an agent

To get things right from the start, we ask you a series of questions that allows us to understand you, your unique situation and your property. We take an individualised approach to your property and your situation so we can match you with the right agent for you.

We use real estate science to create your shortlist

We intelligently use unique data and customer reviews to match you with local agents who have a proven track record of selling properties just like yours. We firmly believe that by matching you with the right agent, you can sell your home for tens of thousands more.

You choose the agent you want to work with

You’ll receive a personalised no-obligation shortlist which explains why each agent has been recommended for you. Then it’s up to you to decide who you want to work with. You’re not left hanging; we’ll be with you every step of the way until your house is sold.

Find a local real estate agent

We use our online research tool which intelligently compares and ranks over 30,000 real estate agents nationwide. All active real estate agents are considered and rankings are based on customer reviews and in-depth sales analysis.

Real estate agent FAQs

What is a real estate agent responsible for?

When you appoint a real estate agent to sell your home, they’re being hired to sell your home with the least amount of stress and for the best possible price. A real estate agent should save you time by marketing your property, conducting open homes, negotiating and following-up with buyers.

They are also responsible for helping you to prepare for the sale of your home by offering advice around pre-sale repairs and cosmetic fixes, helping you to decide on a ball-park price and closing the deal successfully when the opportunity presents itself.

What’s the difference between a real estate agent and real estate broker?

A real estate broker is a term that is more often used in the North American real estate market to refer to a real estate agent. In Australia when we use the term ‘real estate broker’ we are more often than not referring to a buyer’s agent, which is someone who helps you to purchase a property, rather than someone who helps you to sell.

How can I find top performing real estate agents in my area?

Finding the best agent in your area isn’t as simple as taking a friend’s recommendation, walking into your nearest real estate office or picking an agent who works for a big name agency - in fact, walking into an agency without any prior research or consideration of other agents in your area could mean you walk away from the sale of your home with less than expected. It’s for this reason that finding the right agent is absolutely crucial.

There are plenty of qualities that you need to consider to ensure you find a top performer in your area who is also right for your needs. You can utilise an impartial online comparison service like OpenAgent to compare and rank real estate agents in your area. All agents are considered and they can never pay to appear in our search results. Rankings are always earned based on customer reviews and in-depth sales analysis.

If I find an agent I’m interested in, how can I find out how they’ve performed?

The best way to do this is to compare them to other agents in your area. We understand that looking for a top performing agent that you can count on takes time, and in your search we don’t want you to miss out on finding any of those hidden gems. This is why we’ve built a dedicated team to analyse performance markers including millions of sales and tens of thousands of customer reviews.

If I’m already speaking to an agent, can I still use OpenAgent?

If you already have a working relationship with an agent, there’s no need to worry, we won’t get in the way of that. But it’s important that you still feel free to be able to speak to us about agents in your area so that you have peace of mind knowing you’ve made the right choice.

What traits should I look for in a real estate agent?

A good agent should strive for quality in everything they do, whether that’s giving you advice on how to improve your sale price, presenting your home at an appraisal, handling buyer enquiries or keeping you in the loop - agents should always look after their vendor’s interests. And above all else, your agent should be fair, transparent, honest and deliver on their promises.

If I’m not happy with my existing agent and want to find a new one, what options do I have?

If an agent isn’t delivering on what they’ve promised, then it could be time to sever the ties and engage someone new. It’s not always easy to end a contract with a real estate agent and often the best outcome is if you can both agree on a cancellation. Though, with that being said, most agencies will cancel a contract if it's requested as they’ll want to protect their reputations.

If your agent won’t agree to release you from a contract, then speak to the principal or general manager of the agency, and at the very least, another agent may be appointed. If you still can’t resolve the situation, speak to a solicitor who specialises in real estate law.

However, it’s important that before you sign any contract or agreement, you read the fine print. If there isn’t a clause that allows you to cancel the contract upon request, then advocate for one to be added.

We use all of this data to determine the real estate agents who have the most relevant experience, are most successful at selling, and who have a track record of providing outstanding service to their clients.

Find the top performing agent in 3 simple steps. 100% Free. No obligation.

01Research

Our platform has data on more than 30,000 agents and more than 1 million transactions. Pop in a few details and instantly access all agents in your area.

02Shortlist

One of our experts will contact you to find out more about your property and needs, then come back to you with a personalised shortlist.

03Choose

Now it's up to you. You have no obligation to choose an agent we recommend, but if you are interested, we'll introduce you.